Page 4 of A Valiant Prince

“I couldn’t get to her,” she says.

I pull her against me. “My brave princess,” I murmur as I kiss her forehead.

“Excuse me, young man, but you shouldn’t be on her Royal Highness’s bed. And I need to set you up with oxygen,” she says. I turn to see a stout woman in her sixties if I had to guess. She looks grumpy. I turn back to Anna who’s trying to hide a smirk. I wink at her and jump down.

Once the nurse has me set up, I lean back over to Anna. I hold out my hand, and she places her hand in mine.

“It’ll be OK,” I say to her.

“Sten?” she asks.

I frown. “I saw him outside for a split second, but I don’t know,” I admit as I try to recall who I saw outside. She nods

Just then Pete walks in and gives us both a look that could easily kill a lesser man. He points to us both.

“You two have some serious explaining to do. You are both at the top of my shit list,” he says.

Anna giggles and then coughs. Pete is by her side instantaneously. “Susanna, are you alright?” he asks.

She nods. “Smoke,” she explains with another cough. She reaches up and touches Pete’s cheek. “I’m sorry, Pete. I really, really am. I had to check. The signal was from the palace. Whoever wants Logan dead, was in the palace,” she adds.

“Damn it, Anna. We have people working on this. I thought you gave Victor your computer,” he says to her.

She looks away. “I did…it’s just not my only computer,” she admits.

Pete sighs and runs a hand over his face as he shakes his head.

Anna grabs his hand. “Pete, listen to me. I don’t know who to trust, but I trust you, Lucas, Logan, Chris, and Auggie. Something doesn’t add up, Pete. I just have to figure out what that is,” she says.

“Susanna, the only thing you need to do is heal. Enough of this bullshit. You’re not a spy. You’re not some secret agent. You are a god damn princess, and it’s time you start acting like one,” he growls.

“Pete,” I start.

“You and I are still going to have words. Otherwise, you two aren’t going to be spending any time alone together, do you understand me?” he says, his voice menacingly low.

I sit up and glare at him. “Let’s get one thing clear. I don’t take orders from you, Pete. I may have just found out that I’m a crowned prince, but that doesn’t make me any less royal. If Anna wants to investigate the threat against our families, then Anna will investigate it. Do you understand me?” I snarl.

“Please, the both of you need to put your testosterone back in your pants. This pissing match isn’t helping anything. Pete, I will continue my investigating, but I will keep you looped in. Logan, play nice,” she croaks out in an angry tone.

“Fine,” we both choke out in obvious distaste for one another.

“Now, if that’s settled. I’m exhausted. When will we know about Auntie Lara?” she asks.

I shrug. “I imagine not for a while. Why don’t you get some sleep?” I suggest. She yawns and nods.

Pete dims the lights and settles himself on a chair in the corner of the room. I close my eyes, and after a few moments, I feel myself begin to nod off, the adrenaline leaving my system and exhaustion settling in its place.

Chapter Two

The thing about waking up in a hospital is that it’s very disorienting. I squint in the harsh light of the fluorescence overhead. I look over to my left and see that Anna is still sleeping. I look toward the door and see that Pete is still sitting there. His gaze fixated on me.

I sit up and stare back at him.

“You could have gotten her killed with that stunt of yours,” he says to me.

I sigh partly because I know he’s right.

“I know,” I admit.

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